Knee restraint strap system



- June s, 1965 w. c. BOYCE I KNEE RESTRAINT STRAB SYSTEM Filed Feb. 27, 1964 INVENTOR. WILL MM 6'. fiOY Patente June 8, 1965 3,188,139 KNEE RESTRAINT STRAP SYSTEM William C. Boyce, Dallas, Tex, assignor, by mesne as signments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Feb. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 347,974 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-384} This invention relates generally to restraint systems for astronauts and, more particularly, to an antisubmarining harness to prevent an occupant from sliding forward and down which is capable of use with a number of conventional restraint systems.

Because flights with high speed aircraft and with space vehicles are capable of subjecting an occupant of the vehicle to sudden acceleration and deceleration forces, a restraint system is necessary to prevent the vehicle occupant from injury. The system' of this invention is comprised of a harness which holds the knee of an astronaut in such a manner that full mobility of the thighs, calves and feet is permitted while the femur is forced into the pelvic socket to prevent submarining.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a knee harness which provides protection for an astronaut against submarining.

It is another object of this invention to provide an antisubmarining harness which is easily manufactured of low. cost, conventional, currently available materials that lend themselves to mass production manufacturing techniques.

, These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric representation of a seated astronaut with the knee harness of this invention in position; and

FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of the harness as applied to the leg of an astronaut with an alternate mode of strap attachment.

As shown in FIGURE 1, an astronaut is seated in a vehicle seat arrangement 12 which incorporates the elements of the hard shell restraint system which forms the subject matter of application Serial No. 347,980, filed on even date herewith. The knee harness arrangement is comprised of a network of straps which criss-cross at the knee to hold the femur back into the pelvic socket.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, a strap 22, forming a closed loop, is utilized to prevent the entire system from riding up over the knee. The loop extends from above the knee to below the arch of the foot. A pair of crossed straps 24 are each secured at one end to the closed loop 22 approximately at the calf of the leg of the astronaut.

The straps 24 then are made to cross at a point just below the knee, extend around the knee and cross again at a point above and behind the knee of the astronaut. In addition, a semicircular strap 26 is connected to the sides of the loop of the strap 22 at a position just below the knee. In order tostabilizethe system all points of crossing of the straps with other elements of the system are anchored, for example, by means of stitching. Some of the points at which stitching may be provided are indicated at 30 on FIGURE 2. 7

As seen in FIGURE 1, a D-ring 32 may be provided for attachment of straps 24 at their intersection above the astronauts knee. This would facilitate the attachmate to the lead line of numeral 12 in FIGURE 1.

ment of the knee harness to a conventional hook type fastener or an adjustable belt which has a hold back strap attached thereto. This strap would be attached at its other end to the seat behind the crewman in the vicinity of the pelvic-femur joint, which is located proxi- In FIGURE 2, the same straps 24 are extended such that those which are adjacent the outer portion of the astronauts thigh would have a fastener for attachment to the seat in the vicinity of the pelvic-femur joint while the inner thigh strap could be secured at the astronauts option to the outer thigh strap of the opposite leg or between the astronauts legs. This would allow for accurate control of the force restraining the femur and prevent submarining. Of course, the belt arrangement of FIGURE 1 could also have a portion of the belt from the D-ring extend for optional attachment.

Thus, there has been provided a harness arrangement which restrains the knee in such a manner that full mobility of the thigh, calves and feet is permitted While the system is in position. Ride up over the knee is prevented by the hold down strap which is passed over the arch of the feet. The system can prevent gross submarine movements with strap attachment to the seat tensioned to a degree that permits full and unfettered leg movement by restraining the feet by a conventional foot restraint system. By first restraining the feet and then tensioning the hold back straps any desired point of antisubmarining protection can be achieved.

Although the invention hasvbeen described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'knee restraint harness system for prevention of submarining comprising a strap forming a closed loop extending from above the knee of an astronaut or pilot to below the arch of the foot, a pair of straps, each attached to said loop at a position proximate to the calf of the leg, said pair of straps crossing each other below the knee of the astronaut and above the closed loop, each of said pair of straps being secured to the top portion of said loop at its intersection therewith, and a semicircular strap secured at its ends to said loop immediately below said knee.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 including means securing said straps together at their intersections.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 including means at the intersection of said pair of straps above said closed loop for attaching said straps to a seat at a position proximate to the pelvic-femur joint of an astronaut or pilot.

References Cited by the Examiner FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KNEE RESTRAINT HARNESS SYSTEM FOR PREVENTION OF SUBMARINING COMPRISING A STRAP FORMING A CLOSED LOOP EXTENDING FROM ABOVE THE KNEE OF AN ASTRONAUT OR PILOT TO BELOW THE ARCH OF THE FOOT, A PAIR OF STRAPS, EACH ATTACHED TO SAID LOOP AT A POSITION PROXIMATE TO THE CALF OF THE LEG, SAID PAIR OF STRAPS CROSSING EACH OTHER BELOW THE KNEE OF THE ASTRONAUT AND ABOVE THE CLOSED LOOP, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF STRAPS BEING SECURED TO THE TOP PORTION OF SAID LOOP AT ITS INTERSECTION THEREWITH, AND A SEMICIRCULAR STRAP SECURED AT ITS ENDS TO SAID LOOP IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID KNEE. 